The Invisible Ruler

Football players are often projected based on certain measurables such as height, weight, strength and speed. Millions of dollars and a certain amount of prestige are attached to where you are picked in the NFL Draft. Coaches are a lot more lenient with a struggling first round pick than they are with a later round player. Why am I mentioning all of these things? With the conclusion of the 2009-2010 NFL season rapidly approaching, the player evaluation process is reaching its peak. The Senior Bowl, a popular and accurate tool for coaches and pro scouts to gauge a player's ability, commences on Saturday. Strangely, it is the four days of practice that lead up to this game that matters most. These practices put players in unfamiliar situations with players they have only seen from afar. Behind the scenes, players interact with coaches and scouts to give a better feel of a player's character. Character, poise and leadership are unquantifiable traits that prove to be the most important for professional athletes. What most casual fans do not realize is that athletic ability is relative on the next level. Most NFL quarterback have a strong arm. Most NFL wide receivers can run the 40 yard dash in 4.4 seconds. What separates good players from great ones is the invisible ruler. How much does this player love football? What does this player do when everything is falling apart around him? How does this player respond to adversity or criticism? The answers to these questions can be very telling and provide the dividing line between players who last a year in the league and those whose career spans over a decade. Some of the best football players are those who do not fit the prototype of their position. Joe Montana was viewed as a small player with a slight frame and an average arm. Jerry Rice was a slow small college player. Sam Mills was too short to play linebacker. All of these players had long and prosperous careers. Speed and strength are and will always be impressive attributes. However, it is what lies beneath that defines greatness.